Italian Pesto and Marinated Tomato Grilled Cheese Sandwich
A comfort food classic grilled cheese recipe with an Italian spin, made with balsamic marinated tomatoes, roasted red pepper pesto, and Italian cheeses.
Prep Time40 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time50 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 2
Calories: 1263kcal
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 2 large tomatoes sliced
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 small red bell pepper roasted and peeled
- 12 basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons lightly toasted hazelnuts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 slices thick Italian bread
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2-3 slices Havarti cheese
- 2-3 slices Fontina cheese
Create a marinade by combining ½ cup vinegar, ¼ cup oil, salt and garlic in a large mixing bowl. Whisk to combine. Add tomatoes and marinate at least 30 minutes.
Form your pesto by combining Parmesan cheese, roasted pepper, basil, hazelnuts and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a blender or food processor. Pulse to form a thick pesto-paste. Set aside.
Heat a large pan to medium heat.
Butter the outer sides of the Italian bread and layer the insides with marinated tomatoes, thick pesto, and cheeses.
Set into the hot pan and cook about 3-4 minutes per side, or until the bread is nicely browned and the cheeses begin to melt.
Serve!
Calories: 1263kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 107g | Saturated Fat: 42g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 2353mg | Potassium: 711mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 4410IU | Vitamin C: 94.9mg | Calcium: 654mg | Iron: 2.7mg